Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 21
Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्
Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts
पद्यं चतुष्पदी तच्च वृत्तं जातिरितित्रिधा वृत्तमक्षरसंख्येयमुक्थं तत् कृतिशेषजम्
padyaṃ catuṣpadī tacca vṛttaṃ jātirititridhā vṛttamakṣarasaṃkhyeyamukthaṃ tat kṛtiśeṣajam
പദ്യം നാലു പാദങ്ങളുള്ളതാണ്. അത് മൂന്നു വിധം—വൃത്തം, ജാതി, ‘ഉക്ഥം’ (കൃതി-നിർമ്മാണത്തിൽ ശേഷിക്കുന്നതിൽ നിന്നു ഉദ്ഭവിച്ചതെന്ന് പറയുന്നത്). വൃത്തം അക്ഷരസംഖ്യ എണ്ണി നിർണ്ണയിക്കുന്നു.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, traditionally instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Teaching prosody basics: identifying padya as four-lined and classifying metres into vṛtta (syllable-count), jāti (mātrā-count), and uktha (residual/derived form) for composing and scanning verse.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Padya and the threefold classification: Vṛtta, Jāti, Uktha","lookup_keywords":["padya","catuṣpadī","vṛtta","jāti","uktha"],"quick_summary":"States that verse is typically four-lined and classifies metrical composition into vṛtta (akṣara-counted), jāti (mātrā-based), and uktha (a derived category); vṛtta is determined by syllable counting."}
Concept: Form is rule-governed: poetic beauty is supported by measurable structure (syllables/mātrās) and systematic categories.
Application: For students: scan a verse by first confirming four pādas, then decide whether it is vṛtta (akṣara-count) or jāti (mātrā-count); treat uktha as a derived/exceptional class per tradition.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas and Prosody)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher of prosody points to a four-lined verse on a palm-leaf manuscript, marking syllable counts and categorizing it as vṛtta/jāti/uktha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru and disciples with palm-leaf manuscripts; four pādas shown as four horizontal lines; guru marks akṣara counts with stylus; scholarly setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate study scene with gold borders; manuscript displaying four pādas; counting beads or finger-counting for akṣaras; dignified instructional mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic prosody lesson: four pādas, akṣara tally marks, labels vṛtta/jāti/uktha; clean and precise.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, madrasa-like classroom adapted to Sanskrit setting; scribe and teacher with folios; visible metrical marks and four-line stanza layout."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तच्च = तत् + च; जातिरिति = जातिः + इति (विसर्ग-लोप); वृत्तमक्षरसंख्येयमुक्थं = वृत्तम् + अक्षरसंख्येयम् + उक्थम् (सन्धि-लोप/संयोग)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 336 (chandas-prakaraṇa: padya/vṛtta/jāti discussions)
FAQs
It imparts chandas-vidyā (prosodic science): padya is typically a four-line verse, and metres are classified into vṛtta (syllable-count based), jāti (mora/time-unit based), and a residual/mixed category termed uktha.
By codifying technical terminology of Sanskrit prosody (vṛtta vs. jāti and related categories), it shows the Agni Purana’s scope beyond mythology—preserving systematic literary theory alongside other sciences.
Mastery of correct metre supports accurate recitation and refined composition of stotras and sacred poetry; such disciplined speech (vāṅmaya) is traditionally viewed as purifying and conducive to religious merit.